killing time like everyone else... Savage 12 FV???

davescarp

WKR
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Dec 2, 2014
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So a buddy introduced me to this gun a couple of weeks ago at the range and I shot more or less the best groups I have ever accomplished with it. I knew nothing about it until he educated me, i'm pretty new to bolt rifles. Apparently this is sort of a diamond in the rough. Is it really as good (for the price) as folks make it out to be? Anyone have one and shoot it a bunch? If it goes on sale at Cabela's i'm going to try to get a .223 for critters and just burning ammo at the bench.
 
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I’ve had a 223 and a 6.5 creed. If you can get them on sale they are unbeatable for the price. They are blind mag and are real heavy but they shoot fantastic. If you don’t mind a savage and they make them in a caliber you like they are tough to beat especially for the price.

I’m half tempted to get another 223 and chop it down to 19”-20” and go that route.
 
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I’ll throw it out there that group size is way over rated in the scheme of a weapons platform.

feeding and extraction take precedenc for me.

no savages for me in field applications.
 
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Oct 29, 2019
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Well those 2 are the only savages that I have owned and I can’t speak to the long term reliability personally but I do know of a lot of guys that have shot savages for a long time and have never had an issue so who knows
 
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motts

Lil-Rokslider
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Dec 17, 2014
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254
I picked up a 12FV about a month ago in .223. It is heavy, the stock is cheap and I'm not crazy about the blind magazine, but it's a pretty decent shooter (have only gotten it out to a little over 100 yards; no long ranges around here) and will serve it's purpose for right now. Keep in mind the barrel is 1:9 in the .223 (may or may not be an issue for you). I'll eventually drop it into a boyd's or some other aftermarket stock (limited options), and get rid of the blind magazine. I also plan on putting an SWFA on there so I can start getting into dialing whenever I figure out where I can go to stretch things out.

I used my points for it, but it was on sale and there was a $75 rebate when I picked mine up which, brought it down to a little over $300 if I remember correctly.
 

Fatcamp

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The one I bought my wife in 6.5 was by far the worst action I have ever felt. Couple that with the nonsense of buying a gun at Cabelas which kept me from putting the bolt in the gun prior to purchase and it was a losing proposition for sure. Mocked it up and shot it but finally sold it all off at a loss. Good riddance.

My wife and I both have Savages we like, but that whole experience sucked.
 
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The local cabelas where I bought mine let me play with the a few different ones so I got to pick out the one I liked the stock, action, and trigger on the most so that helped
 

Fatcamp

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Mine was ordered in and they treated me like I was trying to steal it. Never again. I will hunt in clothes from a thrift shop before I ever give those people money.
 

VTJ

FNG
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Mar 17, 2020
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Midwest ....
Had a Savage heavy barrel some time back in 22-250 and it was a tack driver and murder on 'yotes and woodchucks/crows, but it was to heavy overall to use as a general spot and stalk/calling rifle when walking distances ... so I sold it and got another Savage with a 'sporter' barrel in 22-250 and Ive nailed chucks at over 400 yds and crows in cut corn fields to around 300 yds with it... longest 'yote kill was 325 yds .... I do like 'em closer however, but if they hang up, it will get the job done .... using Win. 55 gr. Ballistic tip's, I sight in 1 inch high at 100 yds, and am still in a 'yote's kill zone out to 300 with minimal to no hold over ....
 

Nealm66

Lil-Rokslider
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Jan 14, 2020
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Western Washington
I have one in 6.5 cm. I bought it on sale and it had the $75 rebate. I figured I could use it as a builder.just for kicks I decided to give it a try. I used a razor knife to slice away where the stock was rubbing on the barrel, put a ladder test together. It now shoots too good to really warrant changing anything. I really wanted to build a 22 creedmoor but I’m going to have to wait for next years sale. It does shoot factory 130 eld-ms very good too. Flattens the primer on every shot. Sloppy chamber I’m guessing. Still, wth for $300
 
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davescarp

davescarp

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Dec 2, 2014
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The one I handled easily shot sub MOA with cheap factory ammo. I thought the blind mag was kinda difficult, and it the action wasn't nearly as smooth as my tikka t3x. It ejected everything fine but was a little sub-optimal loading. That said if I can grab one for $300 or less, it'll be a fun gun to shoot on the cheap, and really what I need more than anything is trigger time. my 6.5 manbun is great too, but I could shoot that 223 all day.

Side note, I've been looking at lot at the savage 110 predator, which has the accustock, fluted, threaded heavy barrel etc. but it's a lot more money about $700 on GB. I imagine the actions are more or less identical. wonder what it costs to get an accustock from savage. I'm shorter adn have a kid so thinking the adjustable stock could be pretty useful. Also possibly a Ruger American predator which are cheaper, but lack the adjustable stock.
 

Nealm66

Lil-Rokslider
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I’ve got a few savage rifles and have owned and sold a few. 6.5 cm ,6.5-284, 300 wsm and 338 lapua. They are extremely accurate and is is fun to outshoot much more expensive rifles. I will say they all take more trigger time to bring what they are capable of out. I’m definitely not going to shoot the next 12fv before I make something else out of it. I’m afraid it will shoot too good and I just can’t bring myself to undo that
 

JimGa

Lil-Rokslider
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Feb 10, 2018
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201
If you want a rifle that will shoot well, Savages definitely do, but their stocks and ergos suck. That being said, every one I've been around would shoot really well, as in very capable at 1000 yards.
 

WCB

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Jun 12, 2019
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I have a bunch of Savages all bought in the last 5 years or so. I have a couple thousand rounds through a couple guns and hundreds through a few and the rest are newer and have mabye 200 at the most through.

I have had ZERO...0...ZERO issues with any of them.

the 12fv is a heavy barreled gun...of course it will be heavy.
 

Sled

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Jun 11, 2018
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Utah
i have one in 223 for target practice that i got for a trade on my 308. it is reasonably accurate even with bulk ammo. moa and below is the norm. the stock is cheap but effective. trigger is good. no regrets on my trade.
 

Sled

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I'm shorter adn have a kid so thinking the adjustable stock could be pretty useful. Also possibly a Ruger American predator which are cheaper, but lack the adjustable stock.

if the kid you're getting an adjustable stock for is the one in your avatar, you might have some waiting to do. on the upside, your form 4 trust will be ready to go when he/she is old enough to shoot.;)

might try a chassis if that's what you're into.
 
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davescarp

davescarp

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Dec 2, 2014
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if the kid you're getting an adjustable stock for is the one in your avatar, you might have some waiting to do. on the upside, your form 4 trust will be ready to go when he/she is old enough to shoot.;)

might try a chassis if that's what you're into.

haha, the pic from the avatar was about 9 years ago or so haha...
 
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